Article packing and dispensing carton



f H. AMATEL April 18, 1961 ARTICLE PACKING AND DISPENSING CARTON Filed Sept. 24, 1958 vARTICLE PACKING AND DISPENSING CARTON Harold Amatel, Verona, NJ., assigner to Westinghouse arent Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Sept. 24, 1953, Ser. No. 763,070

' s Claims. (ci. zes- 4514) vThis invention relates to cartons and, more particularly, to a packing and dispensing carton for a plurality of articles such as photoash lamps or the like.

AIn order to facilitate both the handling and merchandizing of certain types of small articles it has become the 'standard practice in the packaging industry to combine a plurality of such articles in a single container to form a 'so-called pack In the case of photoash lamps this has heretofore generally been accomplished by inserting the base ends of the lamps into an apertured platform and 'then slipping the entire assembly into a corrugated wrapper to provide a multi-lamp pack of convenient size.

'-While this manner of packaging was quite satisfactory as regards unitizing and protecting the lamps during shipment, the lamps could only be removed for use by lsliding the platform out of the wrapper and then withdrawing the desired number of lamps from the platform. Rather than be handicapped by this awkward time-consuming operation, it has become the customary practice among photographers to remove the desired number of 4lamps from the pack and carry the bare lamps in a con- :venient pocket Where they will be ready for instant use. -For the same reason, the tired lamps are usually left `in an ash tray or perhaps kept in another pocket rather 'than being replaced into the pack for disposal.

latter practice was undoubtedly also dictated by the fact that no means waspro-vided in the prior art packs for quickly and accurately determining which of the lamps, when packed, were fired and which were uniired It is accordingly the general object of this invention to -provide an improved article packing and dispensing carton 'a preselected number of lamps, to be withdrawn from or replaced into the pack without disturbing the remaining lamps and to enable the condition of the packed lamps to vbe quickly and accurately determined.

The foregoing objects, and others which will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description proceeds, are achieved by providing a carton of sleeve-like .configuration open along one side and adapted to snugly ,accommodate in side-by-side single-row formation a pre- This determined number of articles to be packed and dispensed. Flap means articulated with the side edges of the carton along the open side thereof are inturned so as to be resiliently biased toward one another and have their inward end edges notched to provide a spaced tooth-like array of tongues disposed and conformed to coactively engage the ends of the packed articles. In those instances where the carton can be advantageously used as a depository for the used articles, as in the case of photoflash lamps for example, suitable apertures are provided in at least one side wall of the carton through which the main body portions of each of the packed articles can be viewed and the condition of said articles thus conveniently and accurately ascertained.

A better understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. l is an elevational side view of a photoash lamp pack according to this invention, a portion of one of the side walls being broken away `to moreclearly illustrate the disposition of the packed lamps and retaining iiaps within the carton;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the photoliash lamp pack illustrated in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 vis a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III of Fig. 1, in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but shows the manner vin which the photoflash lamps may be automatically loaded into the carton and the angular displacement of the retaining ilaps incident with the insertion of said lamps; I

Fig. Sis a fragmentary cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale along the line V-V of Fig. 2, in the direction of the arrows, showing the angular disposition of the rctaining flaps with respect to the loaded lamps;

Figs. 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views corresponding to Figs. 3 -and 4 but illustrate the manner in which the photot ash lamps are conveniently withdrawn for use' and the iired lamps reinserted for disposal, respectively;

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the end portion of another form of photoiiash lamp pack according to the invention wherein one of the side walls is provided with 4a window opening for determining the condition of the packed lamps;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view along the line IX-IX of Fig. 8, inthe direction of the arrows;

Fig. 10 is a view corresponding to that of Fig. 8 but shows another type of windowv construction;

Fig. 1l is a plan view on a reduced scaleV of the prepared blank from which the carton shown in Figs. 1 to 7 is fabricated; and Fig. l2 is a vector diagram illustrating the character of the forces exerted on the packed lamps by the retaining 'liaps.

While this invention is broadly applicable to the packaging of various kinds of small articles the -nature of which require that they be readily dispensed from or reinserted into the pack, it is particularly adapted for use withphototlash lamps and hence has been so illustrated and will be so described.

With specific reference to the drawing, in Figs. 1 to 3 there is shown one form, of the invention wherein six miniature or so-called M2type photoash lamps 28 a're packed in Vside-by-side base upstanding relationship within acarton-comprised in generalcf a pair of longitudinal side walls 14, end walls 16, and a bsectional bottom wall 18 articulated and arranged to form a co1- lapsible tube or sleeve. The side of the carton opposite the aforesaid bisectional bottom wall 18 is open and provided with a pair of retaining flaps 22 which are hinged to the longitudinal side edges of the side walls ia along score lines and resiliently folded therealong into the carton, as shown more particularly in Figs. 2 and 3. The inward longitudinally-extending edges of the retaining flaps 22 are serrated to provide a series of alternately disposed extensions or tongues 24 and notches 26. As illustrated, said tongues and notches are so conformed and dimensioned that they nest between and receive, respectively, the inwardly flared neck portions of the packed photoilash lamps 28. Preferably, the tongues 24 and notches 26 are of truncated V-shape so that only the corner edges of adjacent tongues contact the inwardly flared neck portion of each of the packed photoash lamps 28 disposed therebetween. In this manner,

an inwardly disposed tooth-like array of opposed and spaced rectilinear tongues 24 are provided adjacent the open side of the carton which straddle the packed lamps 2% at the neck portions thereof and permit the constricted base end portions of said lamps to protrude toward the opening so that they can be easily gripped, as shown in Figs. 1 `to 3.

The carton is fabricated from relatively stiff sheet material such as paperboard or the like so that when the retaining flaps 22 are retroexed along the score lines 15 and disposed inwardly of the carton, resilient joints are formed along the longitudinal side edges of the side walls 14 which bias said flaps toward each other into normally convergent position, the angular disposition of said llaps preferably being such that they normally touch as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 4. The retaining flaps 22 are integral and coextensive with each of the longitudinal side walls 141and of such width that the corner edges of the tongues 24 engage the ared neck portions of the packed lamps 2S when said lamps are seated against the bottom wall 1S, as shown in Figs. l through 3 and particularly Fig. 5.

The carton may be conveniently fabricated from a single piece of stock which has been cut and scored to form a prepared blank 32 of the character illustrated in Fig. ll. As shown, said blank is divided by means of transverse parallel spaced score lines 19 into a plurality of generally rectangular panels which constitute the aforementioned pairs of longitudinal side walls 14 and end walls 16, saidside and end wall-forming panels being alternately disposed along the longitudinal axis of the blank. A longitudinally depending connecting ap 20 is hingedly attached to one end of the blank 32, 'as for example to the end edge of the outermost side wall-forming panel along a transverse score line 21 as in the case here illustrated. Each of the side wall-forming `panels have laterally depending sections hingedly connected thereto along longitudinal parallel spaced score lines 15 and 17, which score lines also serve to define the side edges of the longitudinal side walls 14. The sections hinged to the upper edge of the blank 32, as said blank is viewed in Fig. ll, have their longitudinal end edges serrated to provide the aforementioned pair of retaining aps 22 and series of alternately disposed truncated V-shaped tongues V24 and notches 26. The lowermost of said sections are similarly serrated but on a larger scale Vand in such fashion that the extensions of one section lclosing vthe bottom of the carton maybe employed if desired, as for example a Well-knowntuck flap which between about and 160.

when locked in position will provide a bottom wall 18a of integral construction, as shown in Fig. 9.

The connecting flap 20 is preferably coated with a suitable adhesive, as indicated by the dappled elect in Fig. 11, thereby providing a glue flap and facilitating the assembly of the prepared blank 32 into collapsible tubular formation, as is well-known in the art.

As will be noted in Fig. 4, by virtue of its open sleevelike configuration the carton lends itself to automatic loading techniques insofar as the photoflash lamps 28 may be placed into the carton in side-by-side single-row formation therein, either singly or in groups, by means of a suitably actuated loading jig 34 adapted to grip the base ends of said lamps. The carton is of such length, width and height that. it snugly and completely encloses a predetermined number of lamps, as for example six as shown in Figs. 1 to 3. Thus, during the insertion of the lamps into the carton the retaining flaps 22 are displaced from their normally convergent position therewithin, indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 4, toward their respective longitudinal side walls 14. After the lamps have been fully inserted and seated against the bottom wall 1S, said retaining iiaps are spread from their original inwardly-biased position by the neck portions of each of the packed lamps, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so that the tongues 24 are pressured against and co actively grip said neck portions.

As shown in Fig. 5, the length of the tongues Z4Sand width of the main body portion of the retaining flaps 22 are such that said tongues together with each of the associated retaining flaps are disposed at an oblique angle with respect to a plane tangent to and projecting outwardly from the parts of the ared neck portions of the packed photoash lamp 28 contacted by the corner edges of said tongues, the angle u thus defined preferably being By virtuev of 'the coaction thus effected between the carton and packed lamps 28 by the foregoing construction, the character of the forces V1 and V2 exerted on each of said lamps by the retaining flaps 22 is such that the vector resultant VR of these forces is so oriented that `it will intersect the plane which contains the bottom wall 18 of lthe carton, as illustrated in Fig. 12. Each of the packed -lamps 28 are, accordingly, resiliently pressed against said Vbottom Wall and firmly held in loaded formation within the carton. Since each row of tongues 24 are conjoined by the main body portion of the retaining Y:laps 22, said tongues will continue to exert the aforesaid inward pressure on the contents of the carton as long as there is one lamp in the carton to spread the flaps apart. Hence, one or more of the packed lamps 28 may be withdrawn from -or replaced into the carton without Vdisturbing the remaining lamps or causing them to fall out of the carton, even if the latter were inverted. In addition, insofar as the tongues 24 engage the ared neck portions of the packed lamps 28 in point contact and are obliquely disposed with respect thereto, said lamps may be freely and slidably withdrawn from the carton for use without pulling out the flaps 22, and the tired lamps 28a just as conveniently reinserted therein for disposal, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 respectively.

In those instances where the carton is `to be used as a depository for tired lamps, a suitable window opening such as a longitudinally disposed slot 30 may be provided in at least one of the longitudinal side walls 14 through which the bulbous portions of the packed photoash lamps 2S may be viewed, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. This enables the internal condition of the packed lamps to be quickly and accurately determined and only the unired lamps 23 withdrawn for use. Alternatively, separate window apertures Sita may be provided for this purpose, as

villustrated in Fig. 10.

vIt has been found that in the case of M2 type photoiiash Vlamps here shown, the proper interaction Abetween the packed lamps 28 or 28a and retaining flaps Zz'neces FTW sary to resiliently lock said lamps in loaded position within the carton and yet permit them to be freely withdrawn therefrom without disturbing the aps is obtained when the dimensions of the carton withrespect to those of the lamps are as follows, it being understood that such dimensions are given merely by way of example and not by way of limitation:

Distance from centerline of one tongue to centerline of each adjacent tongue It will be recognized that the objects of the invention have been achieved by the provision of a carton open along one side and having flaps adapted to engage a plurality of photoash lamps or similar articles in such a manner that the packed lamps are resiliently locked both singly and collectively in single-row formation within the carton so that one or any desired number of lamps may be withdrawn or replaced without disturbing the other lamps or causing them to fall out of the carton. In addition, the configuration of the carton and retaining flaps are such that the retentive forces acting on the packed articles permit said articles to be freely and slidably withdrawn and then reinserted thereby enabling the carton to be automatically loaded and used both as a shipping container and a depository for used articles.

Whileseveral best known embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in accordance with the patent statutes, it is to be understood that various modifications in the arrangement and configuration of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. The combination which comprises a packing and dispensing carton and a plurality of articles packed therein, each of said articles havingv an inwardly tapered neck portion at one end; said carton comprising a pair of side walls, end walls, and a bottom wall articulated and dimensioned to form an elongated enclosure open along one side; said packed articles being arranged in side-by-side single-row formation within and snugly enclosed by said carton with said neck portions facing the open side thereof; article-retaining means articulated with the edges of said side walls along the open side of the carton comprising a liap hinged to and coextensive with each of the said side Wall edges and resiliently folded thereabout into the carton; the inwardly disposed ends of said flaps being notched to provide a series of extensions that nest between and engage the neck portions of said packed articles; said aps being displaced outwardly from their normally inturned position within the carton by the engaged neck portions of said packed articles, whereby said extensions are pressured against and coactively grip said neck portions; each of said aps and the associated ones of said extensions being disposed at an angle relative to the tapered parts of the packed articles engaged by said extensions such that the forces exerted thereby on said articles retain said articles in loaded formation within the carton but permit them to be slidably and separately withdrawn therefrom without disturbing and thus terminating the retentive force exerted by said laps.

2. The combination which comprises a packing and dispensing carton and a plurality of elongated articles packed therein, each of said articles having an inwardly tapered neck portion at one end; said carton comprising a 6 t pair of longitudinal side walls, end walls, and a bottom' wall articulated and dimensionedvto form an elongated sleeve-like enclosure open along one side; said packed articles being arranged in side-by-side single-row formation within and snugly enclosed by said carton with their tapered neck portions disposed toward the open side thereof; article-retaining means articulated with the side edges of said longitudinal side walls along the open side of the carton comprisingv a: flap integral and coextensive with each ofthe saidlongitudinal side Wall edges; said aps being retrotlexedalongsaid longitudinal side wall edges and inturned into said carton whereby said liaps are biased toward each other and normally disposed in convergent relationship therewithin; the inwardly disposed ends of said tlaps lbeing serrated to provide a series of alternately'disposed extensions and notches spacedjand dimensioned to nest between and accommodate, respectively, the tapered neckvportions of said packed articles; said ilapslbeing displaced outwardly from their normally convergent -relationship by the neck Aportions of said 4packed articles engaged'by said extensions whereby said extensions are pressured against and coactively grip the neck portions of said articles; the resultant of the forces exerted on each of the said packed articles by said flaps and extensions being expressible as a vector which intersects the plane of the bottom of the carton, and said aps and the associated ones of said extensions being disposed at an oblique angle with respect to the tapered parts of said packed articles they engage, thereby retaining said articles in loaded position within said carton but permitting them to be separately withdrawn therefrom without disturbing and deleteriously decreasing the retentive force exerted by said flaps.

3. The combination which comprises a collapsible packing and dispensing carton and a plurality of photoash lamps packed therein, each of said lamps having an inwardly flared neck portion at one end; said carton comprising a blank of relatively stiff sheet material divided into a pair of longitudinal side walls, end walls, and a bottom wall articulated and arranged to form a rectangular sleeve open along one side; said packed photoash lamps being arranged in side-by-side single-row formation within and snugly enclosed by said carton with their neck portions disposed toward the open side thereof; at least one of said longitudinal side Walls being apertured to provide window means through which the bulbous portions of each of the said packed photollash lamps can be viewed and the condition of said packed lamps thus ascertained; means articulated with the sidel edges of said longitudinal side walls along the open side of said carton for retaining said packed photoflash lamps in loaded formation within said carton; said lamp-retaining means comprising a ilap integral and coextensive with each of the said longitudinal side wall edges; said aps being inturned into the carton along said longitudinal side wall edges and thus biased by virtue of the inherent resiliency of the blank material into convergent relationship within said carton; the inwardly disposed ends of said iiaps being serrated to provide a series of alternately disposed truncated V-shaped tongues and notches that nest between and accommodate, respectively, the neck portions of said packed photoiiash lamps; said flaps being displaced from their normally convergent relationship by the neck portions of said packed photoiiash lamps engaged by said tongues whereby said tongues are resiliently pressured against and-coactively grip said neck portions; said'tongues being of such length that each of said flaps and associated tongues are disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to a plane tangent to and projecting outwardly from the parts of the ared neck portions engaged by said tongues, thereby exerting an inwardly directed force on said packed photoash lamps that locks them in loaded position within said carton but permits thein to be slidably and separately With- 'oirsly affecting `the retentive force exerted by said aps.

*4. The'combination of a sleeve-like carton that is open along'onesida and a row of articles Venclosed by'said carton land disposed with their-ends facing and proximate the open 'side thereof, 'each of said articles having an n wardlyetap'ered 'neck portion; 'said 'carton comprising a pair of side Walls, `a pair of :en'd walls, a bottom wall, and

'a pair of flaps hingedly connectedto the edges of 'said side Walls at the opening into Y,said carton and intu'rned 'into normally "convergent relationshipwithin said carton;

the inturned'ends of said "aps being contoured to provide 'a series ofspaced and matching extensions that nest between and lengage the 'tapered `neck portions of -said Ipacked larticles; said inturned'aps being spread from "their normal convergent relationship by the engaged tapered portions of said articles and disposed at an yoblique angle thereto so that said aps resiliently grip and press each of "said articles against'the Abottom wall of said lcarton, and said articles 'are thereby retained within said Icarton but are `slidably and separately removable therefrom 'without pulling said aps out of the carton and t@ t3 thus displacing lthe remaining articles `from their loaded position.

y5. The combination f a sleevelke' carto`n and a row of packed articles asset forth -in claim 4 wherein, said carton is 'fabricated-from a'single piece of packagingm'ateria!7 and the `angle Vbetween said flaps and Lthe plane tangent to and extending outwardly from the respective engaged tapered portions of said articles is greater than References Cited in'thele of this patent VIVJIIITED STATES lPATENTS 1,996,172 Reed Apr. 2, 1935 2,497,314 Libson Feb. 14, 1950 2,714,445 Nemoede Aug. 2, 1955 2,727,674 Rous Dec. 20, 1955 2,747,732 Fischer May 29, 1956 2,834,461 Dusseault May 13, 1958 'FOREIGN PATENTS masso. Great Britain oct. 13, 1921 

